Subaru’s Forester has long been a favourite for those who seek a rugged, go-anywhere SUV that also delivers practicality for day-to-day suburban life. Now, with the 2025 Subaru Forester ‘STI Sport’ variant, the Japanese company attempts to add a dash of performance edge to the mid-size SUV favourite. It receives tuning expertise from Subaru Tecnica International (STI).
While this special edition offers sportier styling, STI-tuned suspension, and some subtle interior upgrades, the big question is; does it live up to the STI performance legacy? Or is it just a marketing gimmick to sell more units? In this review we’ve come up with a list of the top 10 pros and cons so you can decide if it’s worth the extra dosh.
2025 Subaru Forester STI Sport: Pros
1. Price
Even though there are compromises to consider (see our Cons section), the Forester STI Sport is competitively priced for a medium all-wheel drive SUV. It sits at the top of the non-hybrid variants on offer, in terms of trim spec. Yet, its price is only $1500 more than the next spec down, and $10k more than the cheapest Forester variant.
Alongside competitors, its price is on par with the cheapest Hyundai Tucson 4WD; and mid-spec 4WD versions of the Kia Sportage, Mazda CX-5 and Nissan X-Trail.
Servicing is required every 12 months or 12,500km, with a free one-month health checkup. Servicing is also capped for the first five services when performed at a Subaru service centre. They are reasonably priced at $370.91, $636.98, $379.36, $888.62, and $398.77 respectively.
2. Everyday usability
Steering in the Forester STI Sport is one of its standout features when it comes to ease of use. It’s light and easy to manoeuvre, making it a breeze to get in and out of tight carparks or narrow spaces – a blessing for city dwellers and those who regularly have to navigate crowded parking lots.
And like with other Subarus, the Forester offers fantastic surround vision for the driver. It has a low window line with more glass than some rivals, and glass quarter windows. Others often fill this area in with interior trim. The STI Sport also scores front, rear and side view cameras if you still need more vision assistance.
3. Practical interior
Although elegance levels are not strong with its ageing jagged theme, the interior layout is particularly practical with its hard-wearing plastics and rugged feel. Black and ‘Bordeaux’ (maroon) coloured leather wraps the comfy seats. And the rest of the cabin is brimming with generous storage holes and holders, with enough space to keep your essentials within arm’s reach. Whether it’s the deep door pockets, the centre console cubby, or the clever space around the gearshift, there’s room for just about everything.
In terms of space around you, it feels generous for this medium sized SUV segment. Both the front and rear positions present plenty of legroom and adjustments. The rear crew also get air vents and charging ports. Further back, boot space is commendable, with 498 litres on offer, or 1740 litres when the rear seats are folded down.
4. Subaru reliability
According to non-profit organisation Consumer Reports, the Japanese brand recently overtook longstanding juggernaut, Toyota/Lexus, as the most reliable car manufacturer in terms of customer surveys and recall amounts. There are some engines and components that Subaru uses for longer periods, with only minor revisions. And since it is using tried and tested components longer than the wider market, they become more reliable over time.
5. Symmetrical all-wheel drive
A longstanding trademark feature of Subaru is its constant all-wheel drive system. This means that maximum grip is sent to all wheels, more instantly that some 4×4 on-demand only systems. The Forester also has ‘X Mode’ for off-roading and selectable driving modes, with normal, snow/dirt, and deep snow/mud.
Although the Forester is no LandCruiser when it comes to off-road management, it does have a surprisingly high ground clearance. At 220mm, it is 4mm taller than the Toyota Fortuner off-roader, for example. It is great off the road compared with most rivals.
2025 Subaru Forester STI Sport: Cons
1. Not a true STI upgrade
This is where things start to get a little disappointing for performance enthusiasts. Subaru’s STI brand has long been associated with high-performance, rally-bred engineering. But the Forester STI Sport does not live up to that reputation. While the suspension has been tuned by STI engineers, it doesn’t seem to have any correlation to the STI handling we know. In fact, it is rather soft. Which makes it comfy and cushioned over bumps, but flimsy and saggy when tackling corners with gusto. The taller walled tyres also contribute to that softer feel.
And then the powertrain remains completely unchanged from the standard Forester. Not even a turbocharger added. So, the STI Sport badge seems, frankly, to be a marketing ploy. Some minor cosmetic changes – a body kit, black grille, and STI badges – are a mockery of the nameplate’s legacy.
2. Shrill acceleration and CVT transmission
The Forester STI Sport is powered by a 2.5-litre four-cylinder horizontally-opposed engine that produces 136kW/239Nm. While power might be just acceptable for a base Forester, torque is lacking. Ordinary situations will see it hum up to speed without fuss.
We also found regular take-offs are sudden, jerky and unrefined during those times when you want a smoother, more progressive throttle response.
Then constantly variable transmission does not help performance matters, as it exacerbates the struggling sound of the acceleration. While the CVT aims to keep the engine in its optimal power band, it also means that when you put your foot down, the engine revs annoyingly high before plateauing. If you’re after something that feels sportier and more interactive, this might not be the car for you.
3. Ageing design inside and out
While the 2025 Subaru Forester STI Sport still looks rugged, both the interior and exterior design are beginning to show their age. Especially in comparison to newer rivals in the segment. A new model is coming later this year, and the STI Sport might not make a return. Inside, the overall interior appearance lacks the modern appeal in line with current trends, regardless of how practical it is.
4. Poor fuel consumption and range
Another area where the Forester STI Sport falls short is in its fuel consumption. You don’t get a lot of power at your foot, so the benefit should at least be that you have an economical SUV. But it burns an average of 7.4L/100km.
We should factor in that it is a constant all-wheel drive system. But our testing couldn’t achieve any lower than 8.4L/100km. This also results in a poor travelling range with its 63-litre petrol tank. We struggled to cover 500km, which feels inadequate for a vehicle that’s marketed as a practical, all-around adventurer.
5. No wireless app connect
A feature we rate as a must-have nowadays is wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto. But the Forester misses out on these. There is also no wireless phone charging pad, and like with most Subarus post-2000, radio reception is weak. Even the smallest tunnels in metro areas will have it drop out.
2025 Subaru Forester STI Sport: Specifications
Engine: 2.5-litre flat four-cylinder
Output: 136kW@5800rpm / 239Nm@4400rpm
Gearbox: CVT auto
Drive type: Four-wheel drive
Wheels: F & R: 18×7.0, 225/55
ANCAP: Five stars
Tare weight: 1576kg
Power-to-weight: 11.58:1 (kg:kW)
Official consumption: 7.4L/100km
Our consumption: 8.4L/100km
Fuel tank/Fuel type: 63L/91 RONPower efficiency: 18.37kW:L/100km
0-60km/h: 4.63 seconds*
0-100km/h: 9.98 seconds*
60-110km/h: 7.17 seconds*
1/4 mile: 17.30 seconds at 132.7km/h*
Max acceleration: 0.583g*
100-0km/h braking: 40.78m in 3.14 seconds*
Max deceleration: -1.303g*
Decibel at idle: 39*
Peak decibel at 60-100km/h: 78*
Starting price: $48,640
*Figures as tested by Driving Enthusiast on the day. Manufacturers’ claims may be different
2025 Subaru Forester STI Sport: Video
